Growing blueberries is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to know first.
To start with, blueberries tend to favor growing in somewhat cooler climates.
You can find varieties that can grow in climate zones three through seven.
They are bushes, and with the proper care they should continue to grow for ten to twelve years.
And they can grow to an impressive size in that time.
There are a handful of varieties that can grow to over six feet in height, so you need to set aside a reasonable amount of space.
Also, they usually will not bear fruit or blossom for the first two years, so a little patience is required.
Blueberries like a very acidic soil, on the order of a pH of 4.
5 or so.
This means the soil needs to be prepared in the same way that azaleas might need.
Modify the soil with a lot of peat moss, and depending on the local soils you might still need to add a soil acidifier.
The plants are not very heavy feeders, but will need to be fertilized a couple of times annually, spaced apart about four to six weeks.
You may need to add a soil acidifier annually as well, but be sure to get a soil test first.
The fruit on a blueberry plant comes from growth that is a couple of years old, so the proper pruning is critical to maximizing the yield of the plants.
Use pruning with care, but remove any dead branches, and check for disease.
Remove anything suspect.
Open the middle up to air and sunlight, and the plants will eventually reward you with a greater yield of your favorite blueberries.